Farm-fresh fun at local farmers’ markets

PICK A PLANT — A shopper chooses the best herbs for sale at the farmers' market.

HAMBURG — The Hamburg Farmers’ Market began its summer season on May 3. A long-standing tradition in the village of Hamburg, the market will be celebrating over 35 years in operation.

Since its beginning in 1977, the Hamburg Farmers’ Market has featured home-grown products from local area farmers. In recent years, the offerings at the market have grown beyond fruits, vegetables and live garden plants. Now, market offerings include seasonal produce, fresh eggs, homemade baked goods, honey, cheese, flowers, plants, pastas, perogi, goat’s milk fudge, soaps, lotions and more.

The Hamburg Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday, from 7:30a.m.-1 p.m., from the first Saturday in May through the first Saturday in November. The 2014 season started on May 3 and runs through Saturday, November 1.

The market will be open to the public and will operate rain or shine. The Hamburg Market is located in the Hamburg Village Municipal Parking Lot. The market can be accessed from both Main and Union Streets. New to Hamburg’s market this year are vendors offering salsas, hummus, peanut butter, sauerkraut, freshly made donuts, veggie burgers, kettle korn, organic produce, herbs and fudge. Residents can come check out new offerings, as well as old favorites, every Saturday throughout the summer and fall growing seasons.

The third annual Blasdell Farmers’ Market will be kicking off on Wednesday, June 4. The kick-off event will feature food specials, live music, entertainment and more. The Blasdell Farmers’ Market is open every Wednesday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Ilio DiPaolo’s parking lot, located at 3785 South Park Ave. in Blasdell.

The 2014 season runs through Oct. 15. The Blasdell Farmers’ Market is offering many of the same goods as the Hamburg market, but also includes handcrafted goods and wares like clothing, jewelry, woodcrafts and more. Both markets will continue to feature non-profit organizations that will be offering updates and information on local events and activities featured within the communities of Blasdell and Hamburg.

These weekly markets are open to the public and are sponsored in part by Hamburg Gaming, Aerial Satelitte, the Blasdell Business Association and Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant. For more information on the markets, contact the chamber office at 649-7917.

For more details and a list of what’s in season and on offer at local markets, visit the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce website at www.hamburg-chamber.org or follow each market on Facebook.